Sand-blast equipment



C. W. M KINLEY ET AL June V 30, 1925.

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June 30, 1925.

c. w. MCKINLEY ET AL SAND BLAST EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 26, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIORS.

June 30, 1925.

C. W. M KINLEY ET AL SAND BLAST EQUIPMENT 5 SheetS-Sh et 5 INVEN TORS Elfin/Q77 E. fiaffman W ATTORNEY Filed Sept. 26. 1919 ha rles VN ECZY'] Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. MOKINLEY AND EARL E. HOFFMAN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO WILLYS-OVERLAND COMPANY, OF- TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SAND-BLAST EQUIPMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES \V. MCKIN- LEY and EARL'E. HOFFMAN, residing at T0- ledo, county of Lucas, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sand-Blast Equipment, of which we declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in sand blast equipment and has for its object to provide a sand blast house or enclosure through which articles of various-kinds may be conveyed and automatically sand blasted without requiring the attendant to enter the enclosure as is the practice at the present time in cases where objects of relatively large proportions are cleaned by this process.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sand blast house or enclosure through which the articles to be sand blasted are conveyed, with automatic means for both sand blasting and removing the dust from the articles While passing through the enclosure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a sand blast house having angularly disposed compartments with suitable means for conveying articles of manufacture such as automobile bodies through the several compartments and with improved means for sand blasting various surfaces of the bodies while passing through the several compartments and providing also means for preventing the turning of the bodies while moving from one of the angularly disposed compartments to the other.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a series of sand blast and dust removing or cleaning compartments through which articles of manufacture are adapted to be.

conveyed, with flexible curtains between certain of the compartments arranged to be pushed aside by the articles when passing into the compartments, the curtains being adapted to drop back to substantially closed position when released-and further providing means for automatically sand blasti and cleaning the surfaces of the articles while moving in the compartments.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a sand blast enclosure with means for conveying articles of manufacture through the enclosure and a plurality of sand blast guns adapted to play upon the articles through openings in the side Walls of the enclosure with improved means for automatically operating the guns.

Another object of the invention is. to provide a sand blast enclosure and a carrier for conveying articles of manufacture through the enclosure with improved means for automatically sand blasting the articles within the enclosure, said means being constructed in such a manner as to obviate the necessity of the attendants having to enter the enclosure during the sand blasting operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sand blast enclosure or compartment with means for conveying articles to be sand blasted therethrough and further providing a plurality of sand blast guns suspended exteriorly of and adjacent openings in' the side walls of the compartment and adapted to play upon the article through the openings with automatic means for oscillating the guns while the articles are passing in front of the nozzles thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame or support upon which is movably mounted a sand blast gun with means for automatically shifting the position of the gun to maintain it at substantially a predetermined distance from a surface moved obliquely thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier for an article with means controlled thereby for automatically shifting sand blast guns to maintain them at substantially an equal distance from surfaces moving obliquely with respect thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a swingingly mounted sand blast gun with improved means for maintaining the nozzle of the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from a surface moved in front of the nozzle and obliquely with respect thereto. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of spaced movably mounted sand blast guns'with means for conveying an object or article of manufacture having Another object of the invention is to provide a sand blast gun arranged to be carried upon a swingingly mounted holder with means for automatically moving the gun to maintain the nozzle thereof at substantially a predetermined distance from a surface moved obliquely to the nozzle and further providing means for oscillating the gun when the nozzle is playing upon said obliquely moving surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame or support having a carrier mounted thereon for moving an article of manufacture, with means controlled by the carrier for automatically moving a p urality of sand blast guns to maintain the nozzles at substantially a predetermined distance from surfaces of the articles moving obliquely to the nozzles and with independent means for automatically oscillating the guns while playing upon said surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure having angularly disposed compartments and a track curved at the adjoining ends of the compartments upon which is adapted to travel a carrier for supporting an automobile bod with means for preventing the turning o the body when the carrier is travelling upon the curved portion of the track, and further providing means for automatically sand blasting the sides of the body as well as means for cleaning or removing the dust from the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a framework having a carrier mounted to travel thereon and adapted to support and convey an article of manufacture through an enclosure, the carrier being ada ted to co-operate with a swinging holder or supporting a sand blast gun to cause the gun to move relatively to the article so that the nozzle will be maintained at substantially a predetermined distance from a surface of the article moved obliquely to the nozzle and furthermore to provide means for oscillating the gun while moving to increase the efiective range of the nozzle and to provide also a supply of abrasive material with which the gunis connected, as well as to provide means for collecting the heavier particles of abrasive material discharged upon the article for subsequent use, means being rovided also for collecting the finer or ust particles of the material accumulating within the compartment. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a sand blasting compartment or enclosure with a motor driven carrier or conveyor adapted to move through or adjacent to the compartment and also to provide automatic sand blasting mechanism for sand blasting articles of manufacture within the compartment carried by said conveyor and,

further to provide suction producing apparatus for drawing off the particles of dust accumulating within the compartment with provision also of a sandholding receptacle" struction and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed, it being understood that the construction shown in the drawings is to a certain extent merely diagrammatic in form and that the invention in its broadest sense and as expressed in the claims is not limited to the precise construction or arrangement of parts shown. In other words, it is intended that these drawings merely embody the broad principles of the invention set forth in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A structure constituting one embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure I is a plan view in diagrammatic form.

Figure II is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken centrally of Figure I.

Figure III is a transverse sectional elevation taken on line IIIIII of Figure I. I Figure IV is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operating mechanism for the sand blast guns; and

Figure V is a plan view of the dust collecting apparatus for drawing off the dust from the several sand blasting and cleaning compartments.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Heretofore, so far as we are aware, in the construction of sand blast equipment for sand blasting relatively large bodies or articles of manufacture it has been. customary for these bodies to be placed in a sand blast house or compartment in which it has been necessary for the attendant or operator to remain for the purpose of manipulating the sand blast equipment to effect the cleaning of the bodies. I This method of sand blasting requires the operator to employ a more or less expensive protecting apparatus for preventing the dust from entering the lungs and other parts of the body and has proven unsatisfactory for obvious reasons. The present invention is designed to overcome these objections and to provide automatic mechanism for sand blasting relatively large bodies or articles of manufacture and in particular is especially designed for sand blastin the bodies of automobiles.

A brief description of the general arreadily. comprehendin rangement of the sand blast equipment .in this case will serve to set forth the general principles involved and will aid in more thedetails of the mechanismjto be speci cally described'hereinaften; In the sand blasting of automobile bodies or other. substantially rectangular bodies for removing I matter adhering thereto, previous to the painting or enameling of the body, it is necessary that either the 'bodies themselves beheld stationary and the sandblast gun moved relativelyv thereto to'efli'ect the clean:

ing of all the exterior. and certain of the interior portions of the body or else that the sand blast gun be relatively fixed and the body moved in a certain predetermined direction or directions in order that the nozzles may play upon the. several anguq larly, disposed surfaces to be sand blasted.

In. designing mechanism for carrying out a the last mentioned idea, we have provided mounted ment, as constituted by this leg,"

- cally operated sand blast gun .40

,.the'n passed from t e i same time, or. substantiall means b a sand and have sand blast the path of the travel of the bodies and .have

them in such a manner as to obviate the necessity of the attendant entering the compartment during the sandblasting operation, The enclosure which] we have provided is preferably L-shaped vin form as shown in Figure I. and the body is pref.-

which a body is conveyed through lasting compartment. or enclosure erably arranged to be brought into the outer end of theshprt leg of the enclosure and while. passing through the first compartofthebody is sand blasted by an automatiwhich is preferably mounted exteriorlyof he com art ment and adapted to play upon the hody through an; opening in the wall thereof. The front end or cowlof the body is at the the same time, last gun having within. certain limits to accommodate the .curved or converging sides of the. article WhlCl1 move obliquely to the nozzles of the guns as the-bqdyis passed in front of them.

Thebodythen passes into a'thi'rd or dust re-; movingcompartment at the rear end of the enclosure which is separated from the second compartment preferably by a flexible curtain. The fine particles of dust accumulating upon the surfaces of the body are grease and other foreign preferably positioned all of the guns at relatively fixed points in the rear end ing through a lowered porblown therefrom by air discharged through more or less flexible tubing'members connected with a tank in which air under-high pressure is maintained by a suitable co pressor driven preferably by a motor, said flexible tubing members being adapted to be set in motion by the rapidly moving currents of air discharged therefrom whereby a morecomplete removal of the particles of dust and sand from the article is eflected than if these .-members were non-flexible. The body or other article isthen passed out of the third or cleaning compartment and is removed from the depending cables'held by the carrier or conveyor which is preferably continuously driven. Any suitable abrasive material may be used for cleaning .the bodies but sand is preferably employed and is stored in suitable hoppers positioned preferably beneatl i the. enclosure from which it is forced through the sand blast gun. in any preferred manner, the heavier particles of the sand being returned to the hopper for subsequent use through a screen in the bottom of the compartment and the lighter particles or dust produced by the breaking up of the sand being drawn ofi, 'in the present instance, through openings in the upper wall of the sand blasting compartment with which communicate a plurality of suction tubes connected with any suitable suction producing apparatus for forcing the dust into a suitable collector. 5

Referring now more particularly to the detailed construction of the apparatus, a sand blast house or enclosure is provided having. front, intermediate and rear compartments 10, 11 and 12 respectively, the compartment 10 being that in which the rear end and cowl of the body 'issand blasted and the compartment 11, that in which the sides of the body are sand blasted while.

the compartmen't 12is that in which the cleaning-or removal of the dust from'the body is effected; The compartments 10 and- 11 are angularIy disposed asfshown iniFigure I and-constitute an L-shapedenclosure.

As previously stated a curtain 13 closes the outer end of compartment 10 and compartments 11 and 12 are separated by a flexible curtain 14' while the outer end of compart- .ment 12, is closed by a flexible curtain 15, 'as shown in, 'Figure I. The side walls .16

and 17 of the enclosure and the ceiling 18 are supported by a suitable frame-work such as the uprights 19 which are connected with the cross members20iby suitable gussets 21 while the lower crossmembers 22 are connected with the uprights 19 by means of gussets 23., Hoppers 261 are positioned beneath the screen 25 in the bottom of the several sand blasting'compartments and the pent sand from the guns is discharged byv gravit tlfrough the screen into the hopper-s rom whence it is drawn for subsequent use in sand blasting the articles to be conveyed through the enclosure.

Screens 26 may be positioned at any suitable points upon the side walls of the enclosure for the intake of fresh air for the purpose of ventilation and to assist in conveying the dust particles through the hoods 27 and exhaust pipes 28 which are preferably connected with the dust collectors into which the dust is drawn and deposited by means of the fan 26 connected with the dust collectors by means of the air exhaust pipe 27, the fan being driven preferably by a motor 28.

Windows or screens 29 in the side walls of the enclosure serve to permit the attendant to view the Work from time to time tov determine whether or not the articles are being properly sand blasted, and openings are provided in the ceiling of the enclosure over which are placed the lamp reflectors 30 carrying the electric lights 31 for lighting up the interior of the enclosure to permit the attendant to more readily observe the sand blasting operations.

The mechanism for conveying the automobile bodies or other articles through the enclosure may comprise one of several well known conveying mechanisms but in the present instance we employ an overhead track such as the I beam 32 which extends beneath the ceiling of the enclosure and is connected with the cross frame members 20 thereof, preferably by means of the brackets 33-as shown in Figure III. The track layout is preferably rectangular in form and is curved at its four corners, the end portions of the track being preferably tied to the side portions by the diagonally extending members 34 as clearly shown in Figure 1. Any suitable means of support maybe provided for supporting that portion of the track which lies exteriorly of the sand blasting enclosure. A plurality of carriers are spaced a suitable distance apart and adapted to travel upon the track 32 for conveying the automobile body or other articles through the enclosure. Each carrier comprises a yoke 35 upon the arms of which are journaled the wheels 36 which lie. upon the opposite sides of the web of the I beam 32, the wheels being adapted to travel upon the lower flange of the I beam as shown in Figure III. Depending from the yoke 35 and rotatably connected therewith is a rod or stem 37 having suitably connected with the lower end thereof a head 38 for receiving the flexible cables 39, the lower ends of which are provided with hooks 40 or other suitable members adapted for quick connectron'with the articles to be supported by'the cables such as the automobile body shown in Figure III. A sprocket chain 41 is car-' ried by the stems 37 of the yokes, and a sprocket wheel 42 is provided for driving the chain, said sprocket wheel being preferably located at one corner of the rectangular track as shown in Figure I. The sprocket 42 is journaled upon the bearing 43 which is preferably connected with one of the ties 34 connecting the side and end portions of the track. The sprocket 43 is driven preferably by an electric motor 44 through a sys tem of reducing gears as shown at the upper right hand corner of Figure I, whereby the sprocket chain for moving the several carriers connected therewith may be driven at a relatively low rate of speed sufficient to insure ample time for a thorough sand blasting of the surfaces of the automobile bodies or other articles while passing through the enclosure. Idlers 45 are provided for guiding the sprocket chain at the remaining corners of the rectangular track, these idlers being journaled upon bearings 46 suitably connected with the diagonally ext-ending ties 34 for connecting the sides and ends of the track.

As it is desirable to convey the automobile bodies through the sand blastingcompartment 11 with the rear end of the bodies projecting in the direction in which the conveyor is moving in order that the two portions of the flexible curtain 14 may be more readily separated or opened by the curved or rounded corners of the rear end of the body, we have provided means for preventing the turning of that portion of the carrier upon which the body is suspended when rounding the curved portion of the track lying within the sand blasting compartment 11 as shown in Figure I. It will be readily understood of course, that if the automobile body or other article to be sand blasted were not swiveled upon the carrier that it would turn with the carrier when the latter is rounding the curved portion of the track in moving from the compartment 10 to the compartment 11 and as it is preferred to not change the alignment of the body while moving through the enclosure, we have provided means for preventing the shifting of the longitudinal axis of the body while moving from one of these compartments to the other. In carrying out this idea we have fixed upon the stem 37 of the carrier a sleeve 47 from which projects the angularly disposed arms 48 and 49, each having on its end a roller 50 adapted to travel at the proper time upon the guard rails 51 and 52 on the opposite sides of that portion of the track 32 which supports the article to be sand blasted while the same is passing into and through the compartment 10 and that portion of the compartment 11 lying adjacent thereto in the manner indicated at the left of Figure I, The guard rails 51 and .52 are preferably supported and braced by the members 53 which are suitably connected with the top flange of the the carriers from which the automobile ment 10. As soon as the arm 48 of the de-= pending s'tem37 of the yoke 35 is brought toa point opposite the outer curved end of the guard rail'51, the latter will prevent the turning of the stem upon the yoke thereby preventing the turning of the car body while enteringthe compartment '10. As-

soon as the wheels of the carrier reach the straight portion of the track or substantially at'that time, the roller 50 of the arm.49

-will engage the guard rail 52 and both of the rollers 50 of the arms 48 and 459 will thereafter travel upon the guard rails until the wheels of the carrier have moved around v the curved portion of the track within'the compartment 11. In other words, the rollers of the arms during the time theyvare in contact with the guard rails serve to prevent any turning of the body of the automobile, thereby positively insuring its proper alignment from a point exterior of the enclosure to 'a predetermined point With in the compartment 11, whereby the rear end of the body is moved foremost through the compartment 11 in the manner indicated in Figure I. The sprocket chain 41 is also suspended from the track 32 by means of the hangers 54 having at their upper ends the rollers 55 adapted to travel upon the track 32 to supportthe chain-intermediate bodies or other articles are suspended. The compartment 10 of the sand blasting enclosure in which the rear end of the automobile body and the cowl are sand blasted has been constructed so that the sand blasting-of the cowl may be effected from a polnt immediately above the cowl'and in order to accomplish this result we have lowered the top of the enclosure at'the outer edge of the compartment 10 as indicated at 56 and in so do ing the ceiling of the compartment is brought to a point immediately over the cowl 57 of the automobile body as indicated in Figure II. lowered portion 56 of the ceiling of comk partment 10 and substantially atthe outer edge thereof is a sand blast gun 58 projecting through an opening 59 in the ceiling, the gun being inclined'slightly to the vertical so that the sand discharged from the nozzle will more effectively clean the surface of the cowl While the automobile body is passing through compartment J10.- The sand blast gun 58 is pivoted at 60 upon a'suitable support or bearing 60'- carried by the ce1ling 56, the gun beingconnected with one of latter is moving Extending through the the sand holding hoppers .24 by means of a flexible tube 61 which connectswith'a. pipe 62- leadin to the bottom of-the hopper as shown ind also provided with aflexible connectlon 63 which leads to' a suitable source ofwcompressed air for supplying; air to the sand from the nozzle of the gun with force enough tothoroughly clean-the surfaces to besand blasted. The

ing at its outer end a link 65 which connects the arm witha crank 66 upon ashort shaft 67' journaled in brackets 68 mounted ,on the vertical wall 69 of compartment 10 as shown in Figure II; The shaft 67 is provided with a pulley 70 connected by a belt 71 to-a puligure II. The sandblast'gun is- I 4 I gun under a suflic ent pressure todischarge the Z gun 58 is. provided ,1 with a rearwardly. extending-arm 6f carryley 72 on a shaft 73 journaled in'bearings 74==as shown in elevation in Figure II and diagrammatically in. Figure IV. The shaft 73 isprovided with a bevel gear 75 meshing with a similar gear 76 on a shaft 77 journaled in bearings 78. The'shaft 77 is provided with a pulley 79 driven by a. belt 80 which is in turndriven-by a pulley 81 on a shaft 82 journaled in bearings 83, shaft 82 is provided with a gear 84' meshing with'a pinion 85 which is driven preferably by a motor 86. By the. driving mechanism just described, the sand blastgun 58 may be I oscillated to automatically play upon the The cowl of the automobile body or other sub- I stantially' horizontal surface adapted'to be conveyed through the compartment .10.

Likewise, and at the same time, the rear end of the body may also be automatically sand blasted by the' nozzle of the gun 87 ivoted at 88 upon and adapted to operate 1; roughan opening in the side wall 89 ofv the com partment 10 which extends at a right angleto the side wall 16 of the compartment 11 asshownin Figure I. vThe sand blastgun 87 is actuated or operated by a link 90 pivv iotally connected at its lower'end withthe gun and at its upper end with a-crank 91 on the outer end of the. shaft 92 whichis journaled in suitably supported bearin s 9.3 and .driven by a bevel pinion 94 mes ing with a similar pinion 95 on the main drive shaft 77 as shown in Figure The sandblast gun 87 is of course connected with one of the sand hoppers 24'as well as with thecompressed airtank or other source provid-' ed ifor supplying air to the several sand blast guns shown in the drawing. It Wlll be understood of course, that the sand blast guns-58 and 87 serve to simultaneously and automatically sand blast the cowl and rear end of the automobile body when the latter are s own on each is passing through compartment 10, into carried by suitable bearings 99 on the frame work of the enclosure, preferably at the top of the compartment 11 as shown in Figure III. The guns 96 are provided with flexible connections 100 and 101 which lead respectively to the sources of sand and com pressed air provided for effecting the necessary sand blasting operation. The guns 96 are each provided with a rearwardly extending arm 102, pivotally connected with the outer end of which is an operating rod 103 extending upwardly and exteriorly of the enclosure, the rods 103 at their upperends being connected with the cranks 104 of the, crank shafts 77 and 105, the latter shaft be ing journaled in suitable bearings 106 supported by the framework of the enclosure. The shaft 105 is provided with-a pulley 107 driven by a belt 108 which engages a pulley 109 on the crank shaft 77 as shown in Figure IV. By the mechanism just described the four guns 96 are automatically oscillated to play upon the sides of the automobile body or other article while passing through the compartment 11.

As the sides of the automobile bodies usually taper or converge toward the front end of the body, it is necessary, of course, to provide means for maintaining the nozzles of the guns at substantially a predetermined distance from the converging surfaces which necessarily move obliquely. to the nozzles if the body is moved in a straight line between the nozzles. In carrying out this idea, we preferably effect the adjustment of the guns relatively to the obliquely moving surfaces by means of the carrier upon which the article is supported. This is accomplished by interposing between the carrier and the swinging arm or holder 98 for sup-porting the sand blast gun, mechanism co-operating with the swinging support and carrier which Will serve to effect or permit the shifting of the guns automatically to maintain the nozzles at substantially a predetermined distance from the obliquely moving surfaces. This mechanism comprises the triangular frame-like plungers indicated in Figure I, each of which is provided with a cam or inclined track 110 extending substantially parallel to the surface of the article which is moved obliquely to the nozzle of the gun. The track members form one side of the triangular frames, the other two sides of which are completed by the members 111 and 112 which are tied intermediate their ends to the track members by means of the members 113 as shown in Figure I. From the apex of the triangular frame is extended a substantially horizontally disposed rod 114 which passe-s through the side wall 10 of the compartment 11 and is pivotally connected at 115 to the swinging holder 98 preferably at a point just below the pivotal support 99 of the holder as shown in Figure III. The rod 114 is adapted to reciprocate in a sleeve or other suitable guide mounted upon the side wall 16 of the enclosure and a spring 117 is mounted upon the rod and interposed between said sleeve and a member 118 for connecting the rod with the frame members 111 and 11.2. The tracks 110 for the oppositely positioned guns converge towards each other and are inclined with respect to the center line of the compartment 11 as shown in Figure I, the track member on one side of the center line of the compartment being slightly above that on the other side so that they may be engaged by the upper and lower rollers 119 and 120 respectively which are loosely mounted upon the depending rod or stem 37 of the yoke 35 as shown in Figure III. The track members 110 at their abutting ends with which the rollers first con tact are curved outwardly as indicated at 121 whereby the rollers are more readily guided into position to separate the track members when moving into engagement with the same. The triangular frame-like plungers are also guided in their movement toward and from the center of the compartment by means of the rollers 122 on the opposite sides of the frame braces 113, said rollers being suitably supported between the jaws 123 of the horizontally disposed member 124 from which extend upwardly suitable supports 125 connected with the T-bars 126 as shown in Figure III. The triangular shaped plate members 127 which are connected with the supports 125 serve as braces for the same, said plate members being connected at their upper ends with the ceiling of the enclosure in any suitable manner. The plate member 127 may also be braced if desired by the triangular brace members 128 as shown in Figure II. It will be understood, of course, that the tracks 110 on which the rollers 119 and 120 of the carrier travel will conform substantially to the contour of the curved or tapering sides of the automobile body or other ob ect .to be treated in order that the nozzles of the sand blast guns may 'be kept substantially at a predetermined distance from the surfaces upon which the nozzles are adapted to play.

As the sand blast guns are designed to swing outwardly from the side walls of the compartment a considerable distance, we have provided the collapsible members 129 formed preferably of flexible materialwhich cover the openings 130 in the side walls of the compartment 11 through which the no zzles ofthe guns normally project, the inner ends of said collapsible members being connected with theside walls exteriorly thereof .and'the outer ends connected to the nozzles blast guns, the holders 98 and operating of-gth'e guns by the ring shaped members 131 as shown in FigureIIL v In the swinging movement of the sand rods 103 are guided between the spaced arms 132 projecting laterally from the wall T Y of the enclosure. I

The automobile bodies or other objects when loaded upon the conveyor by the attendant are carried first into the compartment 10 after which the curtain 13 is drawn to closed position. The rear end of the body, and the cowl are then automatically sand blasted and as soon as the bodypasses around the curved portion of the track within the compartment 11 to bring the rear end of the body to a point opposite the first pair of nozzles of the guns 96,the ro1lers v. 119and 120 engage the tracks 110 and immediately swingthe guns outwardly to the positionshown at the right of Figure III.

the first. When the bodies of the .automobiles or other ob-jects reach the curtain 14, separating the-compartment 11 from the compartment 12, they automatically push aside the two halves'of thecurtain as shown in Figure-I, and'the curtain then forms with the body a the sand or caping to any extent fromthe compartment partial closure for preventing ne particles of dust from cs- 11 into the cleaning compartment 12. When the body has moved into the compartment 12, the two portions of the curtain drop back to normal closed position. Compressed air is-then released from thetank 1'33 and -is conveyed through suitable'piping to the vertically disposed pipes 135which project into the compartment and which are'lp'rovided' with shortspieces of flexible tubing 1-36 which extend downwardly around theoutside of the body as well as within the same vand, which when thecompressed air is"discharged' through them are set inrmotion and'serve to. play the escaping currents ofair upon all parts of the'body to blow ,the dust and. other particles of dirt there-1 from. Compressed air may be'forced into the tank 133 under high pressure by a suitable compressor 137 driven by a motor 138 preferably positioned below the compart ment 12 as shown in 'Fi e II.

.The exhaust pipe '2 compartment 12 discharges into one of the Air for ventilating the compartment-12 may be drawn in throu h the screens 140- located at the bottom-o the compartment Q or at 4 any other suitable point. Relatively l ding from the dust collectors 25 as shown in Figure V.

narrow openingsv may be provided in the side walls of the compartment 11 if desired to permit the use of hand operated sand blast guns for the purpose of, cleaning any relatively small areas of the body not reached by the automatically 0 erated sand blast guns suchas the backs o the seats of the body and other more or less inaccessible parts thereof, said openings being prefer" ably protectedby overlapping flexible mem-, bers such as soft rubber pads, as indicated at 141. During any hand controlledblasting'operations, the attendant will, of course,

be able to view the body through the screens or windows 29 as the interior of the compartment is properly illuminated by a suit' able lighting system as shown Figure II.

Although we have shown means for exhaustingthe air and dust thrpugh the top -of the several compartments of the enclosure it will be understood that we may. readilylocate the exhaust pipes at the bottom of the as v enclosure, or ifdesired, exhaust the dust through the upper edges of, the side walls of the sand hoppers, or in any other manner found most desirable.

It will bealso understood that the compressed airffor blowing the dust from the body in compartment 12 may be taken *mm any suitable source of supply and that a special tank and compressor and motor for operating the same may'not necessarily be required in connection with an apparatus of this kind. .r

Although we have shown the carrier or sand blasting enclosure, it will be under;- stood that we may, if found desirable, locate a track at the bottom of the enclosure upon which any suitable form of carrier may be mounted forcOnveyingthe bodies or other articles through the enclosure. u 7

Havi, g." thus described ourinvention,

what w claim as new and desiresto secure by Letters Patent, is: 1 7- 1. device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a pivoted link u on said "support, a sand blast gun pivot-' .a 1y mounted upon the link, andineans for. '125 producing independent movements of the-- link and the gun upon theirpivots,

a pivoted holder uponthe support, a sand blast gun movable upon the holder,-means- 2. A device of thefclass describedl comprising in combinationa support,-a carrier,

110 conveyor suspended from the ceiling of the a mounted to swing upon the support said members being each connected with the gun for effecting difierent operations of the same, and means for actuating said members independently of each other.

5. A device-of the class described comprising in combination a support, a sand blast gun, a plurality of independent members upon the support each connected with the gun, and independent means for actuating each of said members to simultaneously impart a swinging and oscillating movement to the gun.

6. A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a sand blast gun, a swingingly mounted member upon the support pivotally connected with the gun, a second member pivotally connected with the gun, and means adapted to actuate said second member to effect oscillation of the gun upon said swingingly mounted member independent of any movement thereof.

7 A device of the class described comprising in combination a sandblast gun, means for moving an irregularly shaped body to be sanded past said gun, and means for simultaneously oscillating said gun and for automatically bodl moving said gun to pre serve a substantially uniform spacing thereof from said irregularlyshaped body.

8. A device of the class described comprising the combination of an oscillatory holder, a sand blast gun mounted for oscillation upon the holder, a member pivotally connected to the gun, means for actuating said member to oscillate the gun upon the holder, and means for oscillating the holder.

9. A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a plurality of pivoted holders upon the support, a sand blast gun pivoted upon each of the holders, means for automatically actuating said holders, and means for automatically oscillating the guns upon the holders.

10. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a carrier for an article to be sanded, a plurality of pivoted holders upon the frame, a sand blast gun pivotally connected with each of said holders, a rotatable member operatively connected with each of the guns for effecting oscillation of the same, and means operated by said carrier for moving the holders upon their pivots.

11. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a plurality of sets of pivoted holders upon said frame, a sand blast gun pivotally mounted upon each of said holders, a rotatable member operatively connected with the guns of each set of holders, means for actuating said rotatable members and means for actuating the holders. I

12. A sanding device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a holder mounted on said frame to swing toward and from a body to be sanded, a sand blast gun pivoted upon said holder, an operating member connected with said gun for oscillating the same, and means for actuating said holder.

13. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, oppositely spaced holders mounted to swing upon said frame, a sand blast gun pivoted upon each of said holders, an operating member connected with each of the guns for oscillating the same, means for actuating said operating members, means connected with said holders by which they may be actuated, and means for conveyir g an article between the holders, said means being adapted to actuate the last mentioned means.

14- A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a 'sand blast gun movably mounted upon the support, means for moving a body in front of the gun, having a surface inclined relatively to the nozzle thereof, and means controlled by said last mentioned means for automatically moving the gun to maintain the nozzle at substantially a predetermined distance from said inclined surface.

15. A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a sand blast gun movably mounted upon the sup.- port, means for moving a body in front of the gun having a surface inclined relatively to the nozzle thereof, means controlled by said last mentioned means independent of the body for automatically moving the gun to maintain the nozzle at substantially a predetermined distance from said surface, and independent means for oscillating the gun.

16. A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a sand blast gun movable upon the support, means for moving an object in front of the gun having a surface extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle of the gun, means for maintaining the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from said surface during movement thereof, and independent means for simultaneously oscillating the gun to vary the angle of the longitudinal axis thereof with respect to said surface.

17. A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a sand last gun movable upon the support to said blast the surface of an irregular body, and means for simultaneously moving the gun bodily toward and from said body and oscillating the same to maintain the nozzle of thegun at substantially "a uniform distance from said surface. I

18. A device of the class described comprising in combination a support, a sand blast gun movable upon the support, means for simultaneously moving the gun bodily in the direction of the blast and oscillating the same to maintain the gun atfa substantially uniform distance from an obliquely moving surface of an object moved in front of the gun, and means for moving the object.

19. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture, a sand blast gun movably mounted upon the frame and means actuated by the carrier inde endent of said article for moving said gun re atively to the article.

20. A device of the' class described comprisin in combination a frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture, a sand blast gun movableupon the frame, means adapted to be actuated by the carrier for shifting the gun relatively to the article, and independent means for moving the the article. 21. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture, oppositely spaced sand blast guns swingingly mounted upon the frame, and means adapted to be actuated by the carrier independent of said article for shifting the guns relatively to substantially a predetermined distance from a the article.

22. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a sand blast gun swingingly mounted upon the frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture andspring controlled means interposed between the carrier and the gun adapted to effect the swinging of the gun in a plane at an angle to the surfaceiof an article to be sand blasted during movement of the latter by the carrier.

23. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, spaced sand blast guns movably mounted upon the frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture adapted to move between the guns, means controlled by the carrier adapted to effect movement of the guns relatively to the article, and independent means for moving the guns relatively to the article.

24. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a sand blast gun movably mounted upon the frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture having a curved surface, means controlled by the gun relatively to carrier for automatically maintaining the. nozzle of the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from said curved surface during movement of the latter with respect to the nozzle of the gun, and means carrier adapted to automatically oscillate the guns.

device of the'class described comprising in combination a frame, a sand blast gun, a holder for the gun-mounted upon the frame, a carrier for an article of manufacture having a surface adapted to move obliquely to the nozzle of the gun, an operating member for the holder, means upon the carrier co-operating with said operating member to maintain the nozzle of the gun at substantially an equal distance from said obliquely moving surface, and means for simultaneously oscillating the gun.

27. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a sand blast. gun, a swinging holder upon the frame for supporting the gun, a carrier for an article of manufacture having a surface adapted to move obliquely to the nozzle of the gun,

and means extending between said holder and said carrier and adapted to be actuated by the latter for maintaining the gun at the obliquely moving surface.

28. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a carrier adapted to move an article of manufacture through the enclosure, automatic means for sand blasting the article while moving through the enclosure, and means within the enclosure for cleaning the article when the sand blasting operation is completed.

29. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a sand blast gun mounted to swing relatively to the enclosure, a carrier adapted to move an article within the enclosure, the article having a surface adapted to ,move obliquely to' the nozzle of the gun, and means controlled by the carrier for automatically maintaining the nozzle of the gun at substa tially a predetermined distance from said 0 'liquely moving surface.

30. .A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, sand s blast guns mounted to swing upon the opposite sides of the enclosure, a carrier adapted to move an article of manufacture within the enclosure between the nozzles of the guns, the article having converging surfaces extending obliquely to the nozzles, and means controlled by the carrier for maintaining the nozzles substantially at a predetermined distance from said surfaces when the article is moving between the nozzles.

31. A device of the class described, comprising in combination an enclosure having an opening in the wall thereof, a carrier adapted to move an article within said enclosure, a holder mounted to swing toward and from said article, .a sand blast gun pivoted to said holder and adapted to play upon said article through said opening in the wall of the enclosure, and means for oscillating the gun and swinging the holder.

32. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a carrier for moving an article of manufacture within the enclosure, a holder mounted to swing upon the enclosure, a sand blast gun carried by the holder and adapted to play upon a surface of the article moving obliquely to the nozzle of the gun, and cooperating means extending between the carrier and said holder for maintaining the nozzle of the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from said obliquely moving surface.

33. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a carrier for moving an article of manufacture within the enclosure, a sand holding receptacle, a sand blast gun connected therewith and adapted to play upon a surface of the article moving obliquely to the nozzle of the gun, means controlled by the carrier for maintaining the nozzle substantially at a predetermined distance from said obliquely moving surface, and a suction producing apparatus connected with the enclosure for drawing off the dust accumulating therein.

34. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a carrier for moving an article of manufacture within the enclosure, a sand holding receptacle beneath the enclosure, a sand blast gun connected with the receptacle and adapted to play upon the article through an opening in the wall of the enclosure, automatic means for maintaining the nozzle of the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from the article, means for moving said carrier, a dust collector, and means for drawing off the dust from the enclosure and forcing it into the dust collector.

Adevice of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a carrier adapted for moving an article of manufacture within the enclosure, a sand holding receptacle, a sand blast gun connected with the receptacle, a pivoted holder for the gun adjacent the enclosure, the being adapted to play upon the article through an opening in the wall 'of the enclosure,

means controlled by the carrier for automatically maintaining the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from a surface of the article moving obliquely to the nozzle of the gum-suction producing apparatus for drawing off the dust accumulating within the enclosure, and means for lighting the interior of the enclosure.

36. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a car rier for moving an article of manufacture through the enclosure, a sand blast gun mounted to swing at each side of the enclosure, a sand holding receptacle with which said guns are connected, the guns being adapted to play upon converging sides of thearticle through openings formed in the wall of the enclosure, means controlled by the carrier for maintaining the nozzles of the guns at substantially a predetermined distance from said converging sides, and a suction producing apparatus connected with the enclosure for drawing oil the dust accumulating therein.

37. A dei'ice of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, a carrier for moving an article of manufacture within the enclosure, a swinging holder upon the enclosure, a sand blast gun connected with said holder and adapted to play upon the article through an opening in the wall of the enclosure, a roller connected with the carrier, a spring pressed member connected with said holder and extending in the path of the roller and adapted to be controlled by the roller to maintain the nozzle of the gun at substantially a from a surface of t e article moved by the carrier obliquely to the nozzle of the gun, and means for moving the carrier.

38. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a track mounted upon said frame, a carrier movable upon said track and adapted to support an articleof manufacture having converging sides, sand blast guns pivotally mounted upon the frame on opposite sides of the track,spring pressed members normally maintaining the nozzles of the guns at a predetermined distance apart, and rollers upon said carrier adapted to engage said spring pressed members at a predetermined point in the travel of the carrier whereby the nozzles of the guns are moved apart substantially at the time when the article begins to move between the nozzles and thereafter autonfatically returning to normal position at a rate of speed which insures the maintenance of the nozzles at substantially a predetermined distance from the converging sides of the article.

redete-rmined distance.

39. A device of the class described comrier is traveling upon one portion of theprising in combination a frame, a carrier mounted to travel upon the frame and adapted to support an article of manufacture, a holder movably mounted upon the frame, a sand blast gun carried by the holder and adapted to play upon a surface of the article moving obliquely to th nozzle of the gun, a roller upon the carrier, and a spring pressed member upon which the roller is adapted to travel extending obliquely to the line of travel of the carrier, said spring pressed member being connected with said holder and oo-operating with the roller to maintain the nozzle of the gun at substantially a predetermined distance from the obliquely moving surface of the article.

40. A device of th yclass describedcomprising in combination a frame, a carrier mounted to travel upon the frame adapted to support an article of manufacture having a surface extending obliquely to the direction of movement of the carrier, a holder pivotally mounted upon the frame, a sand blast gun mounted upon the holder, a member inclined with respect to the line of movement of the carrier, means connecting said inclined member with said holder, a roller connected with the carrier and adapted to travel upon said inclined member to first move the gun. in an outward direction from the article and thereafter permitting the gun to gradually return to normal position during which time it is kept substantially at a predetermined distance from the obliquely moving surface of the article.

41. A device of the class described comprising in combination a track, a carrier mounted for movement upon the track and adapted to support anarticle of manufacture having convergently arranged sides, holders movab-ly mounted at the opposite sides of't-he track, a sand blast gun mounted upon each of said holders, convergent members connected with said holders, rollers connected with the carrier and adapted to engage said convergent members to actuate the same for the purpose of moving the nozzles of the guns in a direction away from the converging sides of the article substantially at the time that the article is brought to a point opposite the nozzles, and springs for returning said holders to normal position as the rollers travel upon said convergent members whereby the nozzles of the guns are maintained at substantially a predetermined distance from the obliquely moving surfaces of said article.

42. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a track upon said frame, a carrier adapted to travel upon said track and arranged to support the body of an automobile, automatic means-for sand blasting the ends of the body while the cartrack, and automatic means for sand blasting the sides of said body whil traveling upon another portion of saidtrack.

43. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a track mounted upon said frame having a curved portion, a carrier arranged to travel upon said track including a dependingportion adapted to support the body of an automobile, means for moving the carrier, means for preventing the turning of said depending portion when the carrier moves upon the curved portion of the track, automatic. means for sand blastingv the ends of the body while the carrier is traveling upon one portion of the track, and automatic means for sand blastingthe sides of the body when the carrier is moving upon another portion of the track.

44. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a continuous track mounted upon said frame, a carrier for supporting an automobile body having converging sides and adaptedto travel upon said track, a plurality of sand blast guns suspended to swing upon said frame, and means controlled by the carrier for maintaining the nozzles of the guns substantially at an equal distance from the sides of the body when. the latter is moved by the carrier, and means for moving the carrier upon the track.

' 45. A device of the class described com prising means for moving an a'utomobile body in two directions, means for sand blasting the ends of the body when moving in one direction, and means for automatically sand blasting the sides of the body when moving in the other direction.

46. A device of the class described comprising means for moving an automobile body in two planes at substantially right angles to each other without changing the direction in which the longitudinal axis of the body is normally aligned,- means for sand blasting the ends of the body when said body is moved in one of the planes, and automatic means for sand blasting the sides of the body while moving in the other of said planes.

v47. A device of the class described comprising in combination an L-shaped enclosure, means for moving an automobile body through the enclosure without changing the direction in which the body is aligned, means for sand blasting the ends of the body while moving through one leg of the L- shaped enclosure, and means for sand blasting the sides of the body while moving through the other leg of the enclosure.

48. A device of the class described com prising in combination an L-shaped enclosure, means for conveying the body of an automobile through the enclosure, sand blast guns-mounted to play upon the ends of the body through openings in the wall of the enclosure. while moving through one leg thereof, and a plurality of sand blast gun's adapted to play upon the sides of the body through openings in the wall of the other leg of the enclosure while the body is moving therethrough.

49 A device of the class described comprising in combination an I -shaped enclosure, a track comprising twoportions extending at. substantially a right angle to each other and having a curved connecting portion at the connecting ends of the legs of the enclosure, a carrier adapted to travel upon said track, means for suspending an automobile body from said carrier, means for sand blasting the ends of the body while passing through one leg of the enclosure,

means for sand blasting the sides of thebody while passing through the other leg of the enclosure, and means for preventing the turning of said body suspending means when the carrier travels around the curved portion. of the track to prevent the shifting of the longitudinal axis of the body while 7 ing the curved portion of the track, means for sand blasting the ends of the body while A on one portion of the track, and means for sand blasting the sides ofthebody while upon the other portion of the track.

51. A device of the class described coinprising in combination a frame, a track upon the frame having two portions extending at substantially a right angle to each other and connected by an intermediate curved portion, a carrier adapted to-travel upon said track, means for suspending an automobile body from said carrier, means for moving the carrier upon the track, means adapted to'prevent the turning of the body when the carrier is traveling upon the curved portion of the track, sand blast guns adapted to play uponthe rear end and cowl of-the body while the carrier is moving upon one portion of the track, and add tional sand'blasts guns adapted to automatically play upon the sides of the body while the carrier is moving upon theother portion of the track.

52. A device of the class described comprising incombination a frame, a track upon the frame having two straight portions extending substantially at a right angle to each other connected by an intermediate curved portion, a carrier mounted to travel upon the track a swiveled member upon the carrier adapted to support an automobile body, arms upon the swiveled member, guides for said arms serving to prevent the turning of the swiveled member when the carrier is rounding the curved portion of the track, a sand blast gun adapted to au- 53. A device of the class described com- I prising in combination an enclosure, means for conveying an automobile body through sald enclosure, means for sand blastlng the surfaces of the body, while passing through the enclosure, a second enclosure into which the body is carried by said conveying means, and means for cleaning the body within said second enclosure.

54. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure, having separate compartments, a flexible curtain between said compartments, a carrier for conveying an automobile body through said enclosure, means for sand blasting the surfaces of the body while passing through one of the compartments, and means for cleaning the body while passing through the other compartment.

55. A device of the class described comprising in combination an enclosure having two portions extending at substantially a a right angle to each other, means for conveyingfan automobile body through said enclosure, means adapted to prevent the turning of the body while passing through the enclosure, means for sandblasting the ends of the body in one portion of the enclosure, means for sand blasting the sides of the body in the other portion of the enclosure. a cleaning compartment in line with the last mentioned enclosure adapted to receive the body when moving out of said last men-' tioned enclosure, and means for cleaning the body in said compartment.

56. A device of the class described comprising in combination an L-shaped enclosure, 'flexible curtains at the ends of san'l enclosure, a flexible curtain intermediate the ends of the enclosure dividing the same into separate compartments, a carrier for conveying an automobile body through said enclosure, the intermediate curtain being temporarily pushed aside by the body while passing through the enclosure and therebody while within the compartment between after automatically dropping back to substan'tially closed position, means for automatically sand blasting the surfaces of the body While passing through that portion of the enclosure between the first and intermediate curtains, means for cleaning the the last. and intermediate curtains, and means for preventing the body from turning while passing through said L-shaped enclosure. 1

57. A device of the class described comprising in combination-an L-shaped enclosure including two separate compartments, a carrier for conveying an automobile bod .through said enclosure, means for preventing the turning of the body while passing through the enclosure, means for sand blast: ing the surface of the body while in one of the compartments, and means for cleaning the body while in the other compartment.

, 58. A device of the class described comprising in combination a frame, a track thereon having straight and curved portions,

a carrier mounted to travel upon the track, a swiveled member upon the carrier adapted to support a work member,-an arm upon the swiveled member, a guide for said arm serving to prevent the turning of the swiveled member when the carrier moves upon the curved portion of said track, and means adapted to sand blast said work member when supported by said carrier.

59. A device of the class described com prising incombination a frame, a track thereon having straight and curved portions,

a carrier mounted to travel upon the track,

a swiveled member upon the carrier adapted to support a work member, an arm upon thereon having straight and curved portions, a carrier mounted to'travel upon the track, a swiveled member upon the carrier adapted to support a work member, arms upon the swiveled member, guides between which said arms are adapted to move to prevent turning of the swiveled member when the carrier moves from the straight to the curved portion of the track, a sand blast gun mounted to swing opposite said Work member, and means controlled by the carrier for moving the gun relatively to the work member.

61. In a device of the class described, a sand blast compartment having a sand blast equipment, a dust removing-compartment having means for-directing blasts of air, flexible means separating said compartments, a carrier yextending continuously through said two compartments for transporting an article .first through said sand blast compartment and then through said I dust removing compartment, and means for drlving said carrier."

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures.

'CHARLES W. McKINLEY;

EARL E. HOFFMAN. 

